Education institutions urged to create dengue awareness

At least 69 fresh cases of dengue were confirmed in Peshawar on Wednesday

PESHAWAR: As the 69 fresh cases of dengue were confirmed in Peshawar on Wednesday, senior provincial government officials have suggested that greater precautionary measures against the virus, especially in schools.

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Services Director General Dr Shabina Raza has suggested that the provincial education department adopt precautionary measures to protect students against dengue.

Dr Raza’s office on Thursday issued a notification, noting that controlling the dengue outbreak is a top priority of the provincial government and requires a coordinated, multisectoral response from all the concerned departments.

The notification proposes that all school and college students wear full sleeves shirts and full-length pants to cover all exposed parts of the body while attending classes.

Moreover, students were urged to apply mosquito repellents to exposed parts such as hands and feet before leaving for their respective educational institutions.

The notification further suggested that mosquito breeding places such as flower vases, water air coolers, drainages; open water reservoirs should not be left with standing water in close proximity to educational institutions.

Students suffering from fever, severe headache, nausea and body cramps should be referred to the nearest health facility for screening and further management. Moreover, education authorities were advised to hold daily awareness sessions in schools within their jurisdiction.

The Health Services DG further suggested that morning assemblies should be suspended or conducted at a later hour since mosquitos – which carry and transmit the dengue virus – usually bite in the two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset.

Moreover, it advised to engage teachers and students in systematic health education activities and disseminate the IEC material to the students for further dissemination to their families.

It also suggested postponing all construction activities till the outbreak ends.

Moreover, the district education officers also directed heads of all schools to adopt precautionary measures in their schools and
create awareness among students against dengue.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2017.